Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Laminate - Dogs and other Q's

Hi, firstly I'd like to say that this is a great forum to read. Lots of helpful info here. I've been reading for the past 3 days almost non stop.

Now, my question. I have two 70 pound dogs and I want to install laminate in my kitchen. It's probably the busiest room in my house, as it leads directly to the garage and outdoors.

I would like to install a no-glue, floated floor, over the top of OLD linoleum. The old linoleum is not peeling up or having any real issues, so I think it will be fine to put a laminate floor over it, right?

The laminate floor will have to endure a few things...

1. :dogrun: Dog zoomies, spinning, running, playing, treading in and outside (dogs and people).

2. Sloppy waterbowl habits & muddy paws: I keep their bowl on an absorbent cloth (such as a rug or mat) however sometimes they do fling it farther than the mat. I always notice the big drool pools, but sometimes I miss an occasional dribble. Is my floor toast if I don't keep it perfectly dry?

3. Urine ...I am a foster home for dogs in rescue. Often, while acclimating a foster dog to my house, I will keep them penned in the kitchen. I highly suspect there will be accidents. We will always be nearby to clean them up immediately, but can a laminate floor hold up to that? I am a clean freak - I do not want a stinky floor.

As a last consideration, I do not want to spend and arm and a leg on this because I am not going to be at this house for more than 5 years. I would like something decent that will look good for 5-10 years, but beyond that, I will let the new owners worry with it. I am also considering sheet vinyl flooring for the kitchen, but I prefer the look of laminate.

Any comments, suggestions, thoughts, ideas... or whatever else comes to mind, would be very much appreciated :thumbup: Thanks!

With all the activity & mess from dogs, I'd go with a plastic laminate rather than wood (engineered wood) laminate. 70 lb dogs and scratch & dent a wood surface. Plastic laminate can be damaged just like any other flooring. Any floor that is NOT subjected to excessive moisture is a great location for laminate. Should the particle board core be subjected to moisture extremes, it can swell and buckle. For this reason, it is may not be a good idea to install laminate flooring in a bathroom environment. There is laminate available with a plastic core, but it will more than likely be a bit pricier. Mannington's iCore is a completely waterproof laminate floor. Mannington's iCore has a waterproof synthetic core, outstanding abrasion resistance that protects appearance, and carefree maintenance. This floor comes with a 25 year warranty.

If you decide to install a laminate with a particle board core, you must watch spills and how you mop your floor. The high density particle board cores tend to withstand moisture better than medium density cores. The higher the pressure used in the manufacturing of laminate, the harder and more resistant to scuffing and scratching the laminate surface. Just as diamonds are the hardest of all minerals, High Pressure Laminate is the hardest and toughest of all laminate. Plastic laminate floors are extremely durable. However, they cannot be refinished or recoated once they are scratched or worn. Another down side to laminate flooring is that the pattern is mechanically printed -- meaning many or all of the boards are identical, giving a somewhat unnatural appearance.

Posters who are pet owners tend to report greater success with seamless vinyl or ceramic tile because of ease of cleanup and urine issues. Ceramic tile grout should be sealed.

Many folks are opting for the floating laminate floors due to ease of installation for the DIYer. If shopping for laminate, go with a major manufacturer that offers good, better, best levels of quality, warranty, & price. Also, consider ease of installation. Each manufacturer tends to have very specific instructions for subfloor prep, acclimation, and installation. If floating in a laminate floor, you will need to go with the recommended cushion beneath.

Thank you for that informative answer.

About the plastic laminates... can you give me the names of some specific brands?

I've looked at the mannington a little, and I will look at it again probably.

Other brands I have local access to are:

Armstrong
Pergo
Diamond Plate (which claims to have a lifetime water damage warranty)
Unillusion
Quality Craft
MasterLoc Uniloc

I think I've also seen Witex and Columbia. But I'll have to check again.

Are any of these suitable for my application?
I do not think the kitchen will be extensively wet. We have a "mudroom" for coming in from the outside, and we rarely have spills since we don't have kids. My main concern is the doggie accidents, which we don't have a lot of (typically no more than 2-3 per month) and which are always cleaned up immediately.

I'm still struggling to make the choice between laminate and vinyl. I strongly prefer the floated floor laminate, but if I have to I will go vinyl.

I am hesitant to recommend any specific brands because the flooring industry changes overnight while we sleep. I know Mannington has some great products and that is based on personal experience. You need to take a look at what your installation and durability issues are and compare those to the products with which you are familiar & then purchase based on quality, warranty, & price. Go with a major manufacturer--not a $.99/SF product at a discount center. You can do a lot of research on the internet on the brands you listed in your forum post. And, hopefully, some installers will post in this thread with their input. Always compare apples to apples before considering price, despite the fact that you post that budget is an issue & you plan on moving within 5 years.

A perfect canidate for solid vinyl plank flooring, like laminate, it looks like wood flooring, or you can get it to look just like ceramic.

Several manufacturers make these realistic planks, AMTICO, NAFCO, Congoleum, to name a few. Damage a plank? Very hard to do, but if it does happen, very easy to replace!!

Carpets done wright...

Pardon my ignorance, as I have truly just begun researching floor options within the past week. But what is the difference between laminate and "solid vinyl plank" flooring? Is solid vinyl plank flooring something you glue down, or is it floating? Is it something you can install yourself, or should you hire a pro?

Thanks in advance. :)

Twelvepole....

Yes, I have already ruled out the severely cheapie stuff :thumbup: I want at least a semi-long lasting floor. *L* The price I have been attempting to stay around is $2.50-$3.50 per sq.ft. (We are usually fairly handy and we're going to install it ourselves.) Should this price range get me something to last 5-10 years, if I do my research correctly?

Another question...

We are also installing new cabinets, sink, and countertop at the same time. We will also be painting the room and the ceiling. At what point in the install of everything, do you think we should install the floor?

I was thinking that perhaps we should put the floor in last, after cabinets and painting. We will be buying and installing new baseboards also.

Much thanks for your informative replies!

Bumping this up, so it doesn't get lost in the mix.

Thanks

Click on the URL below,

Scroll down as the pictures load. It has some pictures of an Amtico plank I installed last summer.


Amtico job I installed. (http://www.flooringinstaller.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=53926&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1)

You should finish all other work before laying the floor, with the exception of any baseboard or other trim (doorways, etc) that will normally contact the floor. Just follow manufacturer's recommendations for spacing along fixed surfaces (walls, base cabinets, etc) - usually ~ .25" or so.

Laminate will scratch (I have Pergo) - no matter what anyone says. Vinyl laminates that looks, feels like ceramic is good choice and will hide scratches, etc - better than "wood plank" laminates.JMHO

Bottom line pergo will scratch, but pergo-select will take a beating!

I'm not a pro like your other repliers, however, I do have laminate floor installed in my bedroom. I also have two urban search and rescue dogs, 105 lb and 95 lb black labs. We installed it about 3 years ago and so far so good. No scratches from the dogs, just one from the locking caster on my bed. Very easy to install and keep up (especially if they shed like mine do) with simply a swiffer! I'm planning on installing it in the rest of my house. Definately better than having carpet with the dogs! (Odor and Stain) Also, better than ceramic tile in the kitchen if your a klutz like I am with dishes. I have many, many chips in my kitchen tile from dropping things on it. Better yet, price wise I thinks it runs the same either way, with a whole lot less work and easy to change at a later date if you need to.